Gabriel Benavides - Airway Tools Matching Activity by Gabe Benavides

Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA)

benavidesgabe87 — 2025-06-15 00:12:51 UTC

An oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is a medical device used to maintain an open airway. It would be used in unconscious or inadequately breathing patients and assist in performing CPR. The main contraindication for the usage of an OPA is the presence of a gag reflex, along with oral trauma or foreign body obstruction of the airway.

Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA)

benavidesgabe87 — 2025-06-15 00:24:42 UTC

A Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA) is a flexible tube inserted through the nose and into the pharynx to maintain a patent airway in a patient who is spontaneously breathing but at risk of airway obstruction, particularly if the soft tissue of the upper airway is blocking airflow. Contraindications for NPA use include skull fracture and facial trauma due to the risk of inserting the airway into the brain.

Suction Unit

benavidesgabe87 — 2025-06-15 00:28:12 UTC

A suction unit, also known as an aspirator, is a medical device used to remove obstructions from a person's airway, such as mucus, saliva, blood, or other secretions. Contraindications for using a suction unit would be patients who are elderly or in infancy.

Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM)

benavidesgabe87 — 2025-06-15 00:32:06 UTC

A Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) is used to provide manual ventilation when a patient is unable to breathe adequately on their own or is experiencing respiratory distress. Absolute contraindications include complete upper airway obstruction and conditions that increase the risk of aspiration

Manual Airway Maneuvers

benavidesgabe87 — 2025-06-15 00:35:56 UTC

Manual airway maneuvers, specifically the head-tilt/chin-lift and jaw-thrust maneuvers, are used to open a patient's airway when it is obstructed or potentially compromised. You shouldn't perform these procedures if there is suspected cervical spine injury or if you are dealing with a conscious patient who has an intact gag reflex.